Artificial-lighting apparatus



H. M. EWING.

ARH'IFICIAL LIGHTING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED MAY12, 1919.

1,332,619. Patented Ma1'.2,1920.

INVENTUH,

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511s ATTORNEY.

, UNITED r ENTomoE.

Howann M. EWING, or Los ANGELES, camronma.

ARTIFICIAL-LIGHTING APPARATUS.

Application filed May 12, 1919;

To all whom itfmag concern:

Be it known that I, HOWARD M. EWING, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Los Angeles, county of Los Angeles,

State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Artificial-Lighting Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

In the moving picture art it is often desirable to photograph scenes where it is impossible to obtain natural light. In such cases electric arc lamps are used. The carbons of these lamps have to be frequently trimmed. It is also often desirable to produce light dissolving effects in the pictures taken by means of such lamps. It is the object of my invention to produce an apparatus for said purposes in which ready access can be had to the carbons, to trim the same with the least possible loss of time, and in which the light dissolving effects are perfectly controllable by the operator of the apparatus.

In the drawings forming a part of this application Figure 1 is a front View of my improved apparatus, Fig. 2 is a side view partly broken away and partly in section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side view on a reduced scale showing the apparatus supported.

Referring to the drawings 5 is the outer casing of any desired form. In the drawings I have shown a casing, the front of which is open and rectangular, and the inner surface forming a reflector. In the upper portion of the casing and extending across the opening are spring retracted rollers 6 and 7. On roller 6 is mounted a curtain 8 of translucent material. On roller 7 is' mounted a curtain 9 of opaque material preferably black. The lower end of curtain 9 is preferably cut on the bias. that is the lower edge is angular as to the side edges, and to the edges at the sides are secured tapes 10, which extend to and are secured to the tensioning roller 11, mounted in the lower portion of the casing and extendingiacross the opening.

Roller 11 has an operating crank 12 secured to trunnion 13, which projects through the casing. Trunnion 13 is screwthreaded exterior the casing and crank 12 screws thereon, and when adjusted is held positioned by lock nut 14. Between the crank and casing and surrounding the trunnion is a tensioning spring 15, so that a ten- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 2, 1920.

Serial No. 296,381.

sion can beput. onroller 11 to ihold the lower end of curtain 9 at any point between the top and bottom of the casing. Mounted in the casing are any desired number of electric arc lamps 16. I have shown four of these lamps arranged in pairs, but any other number may be used and they may be differently arranged in the casing.

In the operation of my apparatus, when a picture is to be taken, and a very strong light is desired, both curtains would be wound upon the upper rollers. Should a less strong light be desired curtain 8 would be unrolled, and its lower end secured in any suitable manner to the lower end of the casing. When light fade out effects are desired the operator by means of crank 12 brings curtain 9 down to shut off the direct rays of any one or more of such lamps as desired. By mounting curtains 8 and 9 on spring retracted rollers the curtains are held taut at every operative position, and are quickly returned to their inoperative position so that access can be had for trimming the lamps. By this construction it will be seen that the lamps can be successively cut out, and by starting with the lower end rolled upon roller 11, can be successively turned on as desired, thereby enabling the production of perfect light fade in effects. The lower end of curtain 9 could be of different configuration if desired.

Having described my invention I claim:

1. An artificial lighting apparatus comprising a casing having an open front; a plurality of electric arc lamps mounted in said casing; and an opaque curtain having the lower edge angular to the side edges mounted in said casing adapted to successively cut ofi' said lamps.

2. An artificial lighting apparatus comprising a casing having an open front; a plurality of electric arc lamps mounted in said casing; a spring retracted roller mounted in the upper part of said casing and extending across the opening; an opaque curtain having the lower edge angular to the side ed es mounted upon said roller; a tension roller mounted in the bottom of said casing and extending across the opening; means to connect the lower end of said curtain to said tension roller, whereby when permitted to move upwardly; and means to rotate said tension roller.

3. An artificial lighting apparatus comrollers; a tension roller mounted in the bot prising a casing having an open front; a tom of said casing and extending across the plurality of electric arc lamps mounted in opening; means to connect the lower end said casing; two. spring retracted rollers of said opaque curtain to said tension roller;

5 mounted in the upper part of said casing and me-ans'to rotate said tension roller. 15 and extending across the opening said roll- In Witness that I claim the foregoing I ers being spaced apart and one mounted in have hereunto subscribed my name this 5th front of the other; an opaque curtain mountday of May, 1919. ed on the rear one of said rollers; a trans- 10 lucent curtain mounted on the other of said HOWARD M. EWING. 

